Test tube brushes



April 16, 1963 E. G. WEICHSELBAUM 3035272 TEST TUBE BRUSHES Filed March 13, 1961 INVEN TOR.

EDWIN G. WEICHSELBAUM AT TO RNEY 3085,272 TEST TUBE BRUSHES Edwin G. Weichselbaum, Florissant, Mo., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Brunswick Corporation, Chicago, Ill. a corporafion of Delaware Filed Max. 13, 1961, Sex. N0. 95,321 6 Claims. (C1. 15-164) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in cleaning implements for the interior of laboratory glassware and, more particularly, t a test tube brush.

F01 many years, the only type of cleariing implement available for cleaning the insides of test tubes, and sirnilar types of laboratory glassware, has been a brush consisting of a lang twisted wire handle having a plurality of diam etrally projecting tufts of hair-bristles for a substan'tial portion of its length adjacent one end. Such brushes, however, have never been capable of scrubbing free anything but the most superficial stains and adherent solid materials frorn the interior sunfaces of a test tube or other piece of laboratory glassware. In fact, it has been common practice to clean laboratory -glassware by the use of a dichromate cleaning solution, or some other rather strong t:orrosive detergent which is -p0ured into the piece of laboratory glassware and -allowed to remain for a period of time, after which the cleaning solution is poured back into the original container for re-use =until its strength is greatly diminished or exhausted. The piece of laboratory glassware which has thus been soaked is then rinsed out and finally cleaned With a conventional test tube brush. Not only is this procedure a very time consuming and costly one, but produces characteristic stains on the hands of the =laboratory technician and, in many cases, does not eifectively clean the laboratory glassware, eVen after prolonged periods of chemical soaking.

Moreover, the hair-bristles of conventional test tube brushes are not particularly durable, even when used only with ord-inary tap water but, when subjected to the corrosive action of the residual quantities of socalled cleaning solutions, the rinsing and scrubbing operations will deteriorate the hair-bristles of the brush -rapidly. Comequently, a conventional test tube brush soon wears out and must be discarded. Another difficulty with conventional test tube brushes is the -fact that the bristles near the end becorne worn er at least deformed very early in the 1ife of the test tube brush, thereby exposing the wire end which rubs against the bottom of the test tube pro ducing scarring and scratching which seriously impairs the test tube itself. In fact, for many laboratory techniques wherein visual inspection of the contents is necessary, a test tube which has been washed several times with a conventional test tube brush Will becorne so seriously scarrecl as to be rendered virtually useless.

It is therefore, the prima1y object cf the present invention to provide a test tube brush which is extremely durable, easily sterilized, and can be produced at relatively W cost.

lt is another object of the present invention to provide a test tube brush of the type stated which is forrned as a single unitary or one-piece structure which is streng and possesses extremely efficient scrubbing properties.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a test tube brush having a uniquely arranged combination cf radial scrubbing fingers and intermediate scraping blades formed of a resilient materia.l so that the device will readily accommodate itself to the contours of the surface being cleaned and may be conveniently inserted into and removed -from laboratory vessels of various types and shapes.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention 3,685272 Patenied Apr. 16, 1963 resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangemen's, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings (one sheet):

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a test tube brush constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, are sectional views taken along =lines 2-2 33 and 4-4, respectively, of FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary freut elevational view of a modified form of a test tube brush constructed in acoordance With and embodying the present invention; and- FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 5.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate practical embodiments of the present invention, A designates a test tube brush which is moulded or otherwise suitably forrned as a unitary or one-piece structure, -frorn a synthetic resin, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl acetate or similar resilient ru-bber-like material, and comprises an elongated rod-like handle 1 provided along its length with a plurality of uniformly spaced axial corrugations or beads 2. At its distal and, the handle 1 is integrally provicled with an enlarged knob 3 having a diametrally extending aperture 4 by which the test tube brush A may be hung from a suitable pin 01' hook in the usual manner.

At its proxirnal end, the handle 1 is -slightly reduced in cross-sectional size to form a stem-portion 5 which is integrally provided around its periphery with a plurality of axially extending series cf: radially projecting tines 6 and a pair of diametrally opposed Soli-d flat blade mentbers 7 which extend axially along the stem 5 and are somewhat greater in Width than the radial length of the tines 6, the rows of tines 6 and the blades 7 being symmetrically arnanged as shown in FIG. 3.

The two diametrally opposed blades 7 are, moreover, slightly greater in axial length than the stem 5 and are nnitarily connected across the bottom of the stern 5 in an arcuate bottom web 8. Finally, the blades 7 -are preferably curved 01' rounded at their upper margins in the provision of arcuate top-edges 9, all as best seen in FIG. 1.

As will be seen by reference to FIG. 4, the tines or scrubbing-fingers 6 in each axial row are uniforrnly spaced along the length of the stem 5 so as to exert individual bristle-like cleansing action against the interior surface of the test tube or other pisse of laboratory glassware being scrubbed. However, each individual tine or scrubbingfinger 6 is integrally joined to the stem 5 and is in itself sufiiciently flexible so that it is not reaclily pulled loose, deforrned, or otherwi-se impaired during use.

The test tube brush A, being made of resilient material, :rnay be rea-dily inserted into a test tube or into the narrowed neck of some other piece of laboratory glassware, and both rotated and reciprocated therein to achieve a highly eflicient cleansing action. Inasmuch as the test tube brush A is made of a water-resistant and chemicalresistant synthetic resin, it will not readily becorne water logged= and Will not deteriorate in the presence of corrosive cleaning agents. In fact, the test tube brush A has been found, as a matter of actual practice, to be so effi cient in its mechanical cleaning action that streng or sorrosive chemical cleaning solutions becomes unnecessary in most cases.

It is also possible to provide a modified forrn of test tube brush A, as shown in FIG. 5 which also cornprises an elongated rod-like handle 1 having axial corrugations or ribs 2' and a knob 3', substantizdly similar to but somewhat larger in size than the previously described test tube brush A. The form of test tube brush A is designed for use with large sized laboratory glassware and particularly test tubes of large internal diametral size. Accordingly, the handle 1' is iutegrally provided at its proximal end With a diametrally enlarged head-mernber which is internally cored out from the bottom in substantially tubular form and is integrally provided upon its external surface with a plurality of rows cf tines or scrubbing-fingers 6' and radially projecting diametrally opposcd blades 7' substantially similar to the previously described tines or scrubbing-fingers 6 and blades 7. Thc blades 7', however, are not quite as long in axial dimension as the head-member 10, but are rounded off at the upper and lower corner-margins as at 9. It will, cf course, be understood that the tines or scrubbing-fingers 6 and blades 7 are slightly heavier in croSs-section than the previously described tines or scrubbing-fingers 6 and blades 7, inasmuch as the test tube brush A is intended for use with larger test tubes and other laboratory vessels.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and cornbination of the several parts of the test tube brushes rnay be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing frorn the nature and principle of rny invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cleaning implement formed as a unitary one-piece structure from a synthetic resin of somewhat rubber-like resilient consistency, said structure integrally cornprising an elognated rod-like handle provided at ont end with an axially extending stem ortion, a plurality of rows of radially projecting tines formed integrally upon the outer face of the stern, said rows being arranged symmetrically around the stem, the tines in each row being axially spaced in such a manner that each tine in one row is coplanar With a corresponding tine in each of the other rowsthereby forrning a circularly arranged. group of tines, the tines in each such group being of substantially the same radial length so that their outerends are substantial- 1y equidistant from the longitudinal center-line of the stem portion, and a pair of diametrally dpposed radial blades interposed between equal groups of rows, said hlades being radially wider at all points along its axial length than the radial length 0f the adjace'n't groups of tines.

2. A cleanii1g implement forr'nedas a unitary onepiece structure frorn a synfllctic resin of sornewhat rubber-like resilie'nt consistency, said structure integrally cornprising an elongated rod-like'handle provided at one end with an axi ally taxtending stem portion, a plurality of rows of radially 'projecting tines formed integrally upon the outer face of the stern, said rows being arranged syrnrnetrically around the stem, the tines in each row being axially spaccd in such a manner that each tine in one row is co-planar with a corresponding tine in each of the other rows thereby forrning a circularly arranged group of tines, the tines in each such group being of substantially the sinne radial length so that their outer ends are subst'antially equidistant frorn the longitudinal center-lin'e of the stern portion, and a pair of diarnerally opposed radial blades interposed between equal groups of rows, said blades beingr'eidially wider at all points along its axial length than the radial length of the adjacent groups of tines and being slightly greater in axial length th'an the Stern.

3. A cleaning implement fortned as aunitairy oneqaiece structure frorn a synthetic resin of somewhat rubber-like resilient consistency, said structure integrally cornjarising an elon}gated rod-like handle, provided at one end with an axially extending stem portion, a plurality of rows of radially projecting tines formed integrally upon the outer face of the stcm, said rows being arranged symmetrically around the stem, the tines in each row being axially spaced in such a manner that each tine in one row is co-planar with a corresponding tine in each of the othef rows thereby forming a circularly arranged group of tines, the tines in each such group being of substantially the same radial length so that their outer ends are sub stantially equidistant from the longitudinal center-linc of the stem portion, and a pair of diametrally opposed radial blades interposed between equal groups of rows, said blades being radially wider at all points along its axial length than the radial length of the adjacent groups of tines and being sightly Qgreater in axial length than the Stern, said bladcs also being unitarily connected acrcss the bottom of the stem in an arcuate bottorn web which is curved upwardly at its outer margins.

4. A cleaning implement formed as a. unitary one-piece struct=ure frorn a synthetic resin of sornewhat rubber-like resilient consistency, said structure integrally cornprising an elongated rod-like handle provided at one end with an axially extending downwardly opening tubular Stern portion, a plurality of rows of radially projecting tines formed integrally upon the outer face of the stern, said rows being arranged symmetrically around the Stern, the tines in each row being axially spaced in such a manner that each tine in one row is co-planar with a corresponding tine in each of the other rows thereby forrning a circularly arranged group of tines, the tines in each such group being of substantially the same radial length so that their outer ends are substantially eq-uidistant frorn the longitudinal center-line of the stem portion, and a pair 0f diametrically opposed radial blades interposed between equal groups of rows, said blades being radially wider at all points along its axial length than the radial length of the adjacent groups of tines and being slightly greater in axial length than the stern.

5. A cleaning implement forrned as a unitary one-piece structure from a synthetic resin of sornewhat rubber-like resilient consistency, said structure integrally cornprising an elongated rod-like handle provided at one end with an aXially extending stern portion, a plurality of rows of radially projecting tines forrned integrally from the outer fade of the stem, said rows being arranged symmetrically around the steril, the tines in each row being axially spaced in such a rnanner that each tine in one row is co-planar with a corresponding tine in each of the other rows thereby forrning a circularly arranged group cf tines, the tines in each such group beirig of substantially the same radial length so that their outer ends are substantially equidistant from the longitudinal center-line of the stem portiou, and a pair of diametrally opposed radial blades interposed between equal groups of rows, said blades being radially wider at all points along its axial length than the radial length of the adjacent groups cf tines and being slightly greater in axial length than the stem, said blades also being unitarily connected across the bottom of the stem in an arcuate botto'rn web which is curved upwardly at its outer margins, said blades being provided with arcuate top edges which merge into said stern.

6. A cleaning implement forrned asa Unitary one-piece -stnucture from a synthetic resin of sornewhat rubber-like resilient consistency, said structure integrally comprising an elongated rod-like handle provided at one end with an axially extmding stem portion, a pair of diametrally op- 1)osed radial blades integrally formed with said stem and extending outwardly therefrom, each of said blades having a pair of opposed flat faces, a plurality of rows of radially projecting tines formed on the outer face of said stern and being annularly spaced between the flat face of one blade and the flat face of the other blade, said stem also being provided with a plurlity of rows of radially projecting tines formed on the outer face cf said stem and being annularly spaced between the other flat surfac'es of each of said blades, the tines in each row being axially spaced in such a manner that each tine in one row is eo-planar With a corresponding tine in each of the other rows thereby forrning a circularly arranged group of tines, the tines in each such group being of substantially thesame radial length so that their outer ends are substantially equidistant from the longitudinal eenter- 1ine cf the stem portion, said blades being radially wider 5 at all points along its axial length than the radial 1ength of the adjacent groups of tines and being slight1y greater in axial length than the stem, said blades also being unitarily connected across the bottom of the stem in an arcuate bottom web which is curved upwardly at its outer 5 margins.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 405,297 Bailey Inne 1s 1889 

1. A CLEANING IMPLEMENT FORMED AS A UNITARY ONE-PIECE STRUCTURE FROM A SYNTHETIC RESIN OF SOMEWHAT RUBBER-LIKE RESILIENT CONSISTENCY, SAID STRUCTURE INTEGRALLY COMPRISING AN ELONGATED ROD-LIKE HANDLE PROVIDED AT ONT END WITH AN AXIALLY EXTENDING STEM PORTION, A PLURALITY OF ROWS OF RADIALLY PROJECTING TINES FORMED INTEGRALLY UPON THE OUTER FACE OF THE STEM, SAID ROWS BEING ARRANGED SYMMETRICALLY AROUND THE STEM, THE TINES IN EACH ROW BEING AXIALLY SPACED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT EACH TINE IN ONE ROW IS COPLANAR WITH A CORRESPONDING TINE IN EACH OF THE OTHER ROWS THEREBY FORMING A CIRCULARLY ARRANGED GROUP OF TINES, THE TINES IN EACH SUCH GROUP BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE 